Back Tattoos for Men - Ideas and Designs for Guys
Men, listen up! Your back is a blank canvas just begging for design. Whether you are considering your first tattoo or your fifth, your back is the perfect place for your new design. But what design is it going to be? Maybe you are going to go with a stunning shaded piece in hues of black and gray. Perhaps blazing and bold colors are more your style. No matter what you have bouncing around in your head, we are here to help you make your final decision.
Why final? Because your tattoo is going to be riding your back for the rest of your life. Choosing the right design is essential if you ever want to be proud to prance around sans shirt again. Choose a horrible design and the only good news is that you will never have to look at it! Pick a great design and you will be proud to show it off. Back tattoos for men make a statement; what will yours say?
How to pick back tattoos for guys
Once you have decided on a back piece, realize that you have chosen what is one of the best places on your body for a large tat. Your back is flat, wide and tall - very similar to a true piece of canvas. The sky is the limit when it comes to a back piece so let your imagination go wild. Here are just a few things to think about when choosing your piece: Theme, Color, Size and Overall Design.
It’s not unusual for men to sit for pieces of such a large tattoo at a time. While there is nothing wrong with starting small, you do need to speak with your artist about the direction of your piece. Don’t start with Mighty Mouse in the center of your back if you want a religious theme. You get the idea.
If you trust your tattoo artist as much as you should, make an appointment for a consultation. Take a list of your ideas and a few photos of images that you like. Your tattoo artist will be happy to sit down with you and create custom piece that is both unique and personal.
As always, we are here to help you choose the perfect design for you. Use our site to help you come up with ideas for your newest piece of wearable art. We can offer advice, ideas and examples. We are here for any man who is interested in developing a personalized tattoo that he will be happy with for the rest of his life!
Cool Back Tattoo Ideas for Men
A colorful combination of some popular heroes and villains such as Spiderman at the top right corner shows the boldness of this tattoo in passing the intended message. The tattoo best fits someone seeking attention with the multicolored characters “speaking loudly” to an audience that is far away from the tattoo wearer.
A grey back tattoo of the crucifixion of Jesus with a crown of thorns upon his head is clear indication of a deeply-rooted love of Christ. A love sign with a crown and angels facing the heavens augment the importance this love and passion for Christ.
This tattoo shows a human skull that fully fits the back with some scary projections moving from the shoulders into the eyes and mouth clearly proving toughness. The skull tattoo is creatively big and has a cross symbol emanating from a hole on the forehead, which is very scary.
Is that a smiling kitten in a human face? This tattoo idea is excitingly unique and covers the back very well with the cat’s moustaches making it warmly welcoming to viewers. The repeated embellishments and writings that surround the cat make the tattoo masculine.
This a unique combination of several small grey-colored tattoos that can easily pass for girl tattoos. The decorations do not show much power of masculinity and perhaps are designed for men with a soft-spot on females.
This fully-fitting back tattoo of a dragon rekindles the memories of the Japanese Yakuza outfits who were known to be fearless and great men of honor. Back tattoos with dragons are good messengers of bravery. The yellow eye and red claws look scary at a distance.
This back tattoo shows some popular Japanese anime characters with a bold statement of the love the tattoo wearer has for animated productions. Perhaps, the major aim is to show support for animated sketchbook characters that are now popular in entertainment joints.
A masculine back tattoo stretching from the sleeves and covering every part of your back is a show of masculine confidence. The multiple characters specifically decorated for near-viewing makes the tattoo interesting since only a few people close to you will get to know what the decorations describe.
A show of love in a masculine way by having the picture of your love tattooed to fully fit your back is a show of consideration to those you care for. Although the surroundings look scary, the smiling face of the lady speaks a lot about the tattoo-wearer’s personality as a loving man.
A multi-colored tattoo of a woman holding a stick against an infant with serpents surrounding her is frightening to the viewers. It is not clear what the woman is doing but the whole picture looks scary. Anyone with this tattoo on his back must be very fearless.
More back tattoos for men on the next page...
A scary single dragon with its mouth widely opened ready to spit fire is a great sign of toughness. The black dragon coiling itself from the lower parts of the back to the neck areas is frightening to look at and can be used show the daring nature of the wearer.
A scary pair bird wings which are synonymous with popular horror movies portrayed in a frightening way with a missing head and body are a sign of bravado. Apart from scaring viewers, the wings also tell a lot about how daring the tattoo wearer is in living his life.
A scary tattoo of hell fire consuming the dead with thunder and lightning at far distance is a sign of boldness and readiness to face the wrath of God after spending your time on earth sinning. The scary portrait also shows human skulls and skeletons that only the bravest can allow a tattooist to put at their body back.
The American eagle with thirteen stars of the confederate forces during the American civil war is a sign of defiance. Although there are signs of patriotism by including the eagle and some elements of the American flag, the main aim by the tattoo wearer is to show defiance.
A clear show of patriotism in a colorful way, this back tattoo with the American eagle creatively crafted at the forefront and the American flag at the rear part is a show of patriotism and love for one’s country.
Is this a dancing dragon? It appears so; this back tattoo shows male bravado in a little-scary way by placing the petrifying dragon in a dancing mood. It is a tattoo for dragon-lovers who fo not pass out their message in a scary way.
A combination of skeleton characters that are seemingly in distress somewhere in hell with one of the characters, perhaps the devil seated at central position is very frightening. The tattoo shows how fearless the wearer is and passes a clear message about how hell is will be distressful.
This is a popular tattoo of intertwined dragons that are popular among the Japanese Yakuza and Samurai warriors. The dragons interlock to form a formidable pattern of good-looking tattoo that is charming for viewers. The dragons symbolize male masculinity and bravery.
A scary decoration of some religious occurrence such as this, show a lot of boldness. The tattoo shows numerous visions with an opening that goes up and wide onto the collar bone edges. This is frightening and only a few people can be able to gather up strength and look at it twice.
A dry tree that has shed off its leaves but still looks strong is a clear sign of male dominance even in instances that does not favor his supremacy. The tree, although a bit scary shows a form of continuity as it is standing tall even in dry weather.
More back tattoos for men on the next page...
A tattoo of intertwined fire amber that form a charming ball is a sign of boldness in a way that is not scary as witnessed in other men tattoos ideas for bravery such as fire-spitting cobras or human skulls. The intertwining patterns are very cool to look at from a distance.
This tattoo describes a fear-provoking woman whose hair is being blown off by wind and has lips that look dry. The woman herself looks scared and is surely another clear sign of bravery for people walking with her tattoo at the back of their body.
A tattoo of the Joker, one of the scariest movie and comic book characters at the back of your body is a great show of masculine boldness. The scary Joker whose face is partly covered with a playing card that fully blocks one eye is very creepy and only daring individuals can have him tattooed at their backs.
Dragons are some of the oldest picturesque tattoo ideas for men. This seemingly cool dragon is exceptionally different from the fire-spitting monster images popular on Japanese Yakuza tattoos. It is a cool tattoo for someone not wanting a lot of attention from observers.
A daring tattoo with the human skeleton, the backbone fully-exposed with ribs projecting outwards is scary and a clear sign of hardiness. The clearly outlined scapular bones make the tattoo look more realistic to viewers.
With two stylized wings emerging from without you, this exquisite back tattoo will remind you of the angel within. Each feather is detailed, and the design itself is beautiful in black, contrasting wonderfully with the skin.
As far as back tattoos go, this one is a beauty. Covering up all of the back as well as the back of the arms, the awesomely designed and detailed skull is guaranteed to make you stand out. You can see the detailed additions on the arm as well, from the Star of David to the vampire teeth. Moreover, the patch of red on the upper arm forms a sharp contrast to the black which dominates the rest of the tattoo, adding color to the otherwise morbid imagery.
Nothing can beat the powers of a wizard. With a very life-like Gandalf playing the puppeteer, this tattoo brings the magic to life. Entirely in black, the collage turns your back into a bewitching scene.
This stylized scorpion centered on the back looks incredible. With black and blank shapes, the skin provides an incredible contrast. Moreover, the bold lines truly bring this creature to life.
This eye-catching design is sure to turn heads. Covering the shoulder, arms, and a side of the back, this is a great idea for men's tattoos. The bold lines as well as the strong curves give it a very macho appeal, kind of like Mike Tyson's face tattoo.
More back tattoos for men on the next page...
Talking about macho, this monster is sure to add adventure in your life. Entirely in shaded black, the details give it a 3D appearance, whereas the eyes and teeth can haunt your nightmares for days to come.
Not everything macho has to be terrifying, and this design proves it. Bold, powerful, and incredible, it has a quiet yet irresistible appeal. Moreover, the culmination into flames around the back of the neck and skull only add to the masculine nature of the design.
Bring adventure to life on your bare back. This is a hyper-realistic, three dimensional wonder depicting a man just before he is about to jump. The tattoo, which is detailed in shaded black, can set your heart racing with trepidation.
Our lives are devoid of excitement, for the most part. A goblin on the back, however, can change all that. Created in shaded black, this little creature comes to life with a penny and a pipe. Moreover, the terrifying branches and the mushrooms which form his seat only serve to highlight this surreal scene, while the bats in the background symbolize black magic.
Tattoos are all about letting your imagination free. This back tattoo is as masculine as it is beautiful. With the skull kissing a woman, her live face is decorated with the mask of death. Her skull is depicted through the stylized lines covering her skin, a reminder of the frailty of life itself.
Ravens have always symbolized foreboding. This realistic collage of images, which include a woman's face, a letter, and two ravens, is sure to make heads turn. A great back tattoo for men, this one depicts mystery at a glance.
The crucifixion, sorrow, and suffering of Christ is perfectly captured in this tattoo design. While depicting the savior nailed to the cross, the tattoo, which continues to cover the two arms, is extremely detailed. One can even see death and an angel lurking over Christ's head. Moreover, the extremely beautiful design on top adds life to the image.
Our time is limited, and the clock is ticking. This skull, whose head becomes the form of a clock, is a continual reminder of that. Covering only the top corner of the back, it is a beguiling tattoo idea for men. The crimson shade towards the edge contrasts well with the black in the rest of the tattoo to depict the fleeting nature of life.
What could be more fabulous, masculine, or fantastic, than a powerful dragon? A masterpiece in itself, this back tattoo is guaranteed to give you the chills. Each scale is created to perfection, and the Chinese dragon's head exudes complete power. As you stare at the life-like image, you will be left waiting for the dragon to breathe fire into your face - the sparks of which are still ripe on his tongue.
The beauty in the dreadful is emphasized in this incredible tattoo. Here, you see a large skull lying in a bed of roses, the dew drops still fresh on its forehead. It is a reminder of the passage of time. Despite its morbid depiction, there is a subtle beauty in the scene. Done in shaded black, this tattoo is outstanding.
More back tattoos for men on the next page...
If you are into history, the Egyptians, or even just the technical death metal band, 'Nile', this is the tattoo for you. Not scary, but so creative, the designs remind one of an obelisk. This stunning creation, made with black ink, depicts the falcon which is entirely filled with hieroglyphs.
Darkness, beauty, and more - this tattoo idea is for a true artist at heart. Made in shaded black, it requires immense patience and detail to create this beautiful masterpiece. Moreover, the detailed border provides it with a 3 dimensional effect, as the woman's face is effectively within the back.
We all have an angel within us, and this one is proof. A brilliant tattoo for a man, the wings are dark, and the feathers clustered. While he may not be ready to fly just yet, these wings give his plain back an all new perspective.
This tattoo is done entirely in shaded black, and includes intricate details ranging from a spider's web to a letter and plenty more. However, it only covers the upper back and arms, effectively framing the rest of your back, showcasing the model's muscular build.
Skulls are gaining popularity. They are deathly, yet fascinating. As a result, they are frequently stylized into different forms, and this one sports monster teeth and metal additions. A trident in the nasal cavity along with the intricate detail and shading throughout brings the tattoo alive.
While tattoos in black have a unique appeal, it is only a few that can pull off a colorful one. The melange is stunning. The ship, the roses, the eagle, and the serpent have all been arranged beautifully, adorned with lightening peeping out from the clouds. Not a single detail has been skipped in creating this little bit of wonder.
Here, the deathly skull graces the background while the foreground depicts the ultimate predator - the owl. However, with the skull staring at you and the owl prepared with its claws out, the tattoo seems to scream, "you are next."
A sci-fi classic, who doesn't want to be a cyborg? This tattoo will make that fantasy come true. Made in black, it is a 3-D creation depicting what is under your skin - some extremely advanced mechanical marvels. Whoever said you were human has never had a peek at your back.
Angels are not always beautiful women. Sometimes it is men like these. The muscles depicted somehow emphasize the suffering in the image, while the wings outspread exude a surreal aura.
While black is captivating, blue is absolutely enthralling. Designed to capture eyes and hearts, this simple tattoo comprises of a range of differently styled circle present in a straight line along the spine of the back. Moreover, the detailed design of the blue on the arms only serves to highlight the beauty of the color itself.